Compare towns
Wells vs Vinalhaven vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Vinalhaven has the oldest population (median age 65.1).
Eliot has the highest household income ($102k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wells | Vinalhaven | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713Highest |
1,216Lowest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
50.8±5.9Lowest 13% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
$101,522±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
| Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$428,400±$44kLowest 44% above ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
| Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
| Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,598 19% above ME |
$4,549Highest 50% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5 ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
23 min 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Vinalhaven and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.